Almost one-third of Brits, Germans and French want EU army instead of NATO forces

A new poll shows almost one in three citizens of the UK, Germany and France want the EU to have its own armed forces which would replace its reliance on NATO troops.

The poll was conducted by ICM Research exclusively for Sputnik news agency. It surveyed some 4,000
people in Germany, France and the UK.

An average of 28 percent of respondents said they would like the
EU to create its own army to protect its own interests. The
number was highest of all in France, 37 percent, and one percent
lower in Germany. But only 19 percent of those asked in the UK
said they wanted an EU force.

Most respondents however are still happy with the fact that NATO
troops are stationed in their countries – the number is 47
percent for Germany and 48 percent for the UK.

The call for the EU to have its own army was voiced by European
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in March. He said such a
force will ensure that the EU is “taken seriously” and
“show the world that there would never again be a war between
EU countries.” His call was backed by Germany, where the
defense minister had voiced similar ideas before.

The joint EU army envisioned by Juncker, however, would serve the
same purpose as the NATO force currently being beefed up in
Europe – that is, to send a message to Russia. “A common army
among the Europeans would convey to Russia that we are serious
about defending the values of the European Union,” Juncker
said.

However, the UK rose against the idea, a government spokesman
saying “defense is a national – not an EU – responsibility
and that there is no prospect of that position changing and no
prospect of a European army.”

Meanwhile the presence of NATO forces in Europe is growing. Its
rapid response force, currently about 13,000 strong, is expected
to grow to 40,000, Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
recently said. The US also announced it is sending some 250
military vehicles to the Baltic states, as well as Bulgaria,
Poland and Romania.

NATO forces have been creeping closer to the Russian border, with
commanders and officials accusing Moscow of “aggression” and
involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. The Alliance has been
holding non-stop military exercises all across Europe for months
now.